Parents’ knowledge of children who attended the pediatric dentistry lecture on oral health and its impact on dental caries incidence. School of Dentistry, University of Caaguazú, Paraguay. Year 2021

Abstract

Currently, it is essential to assess both the oral clinical indicators in children and the parents’ level of knowledge about oral health and its impact on the prevention of oral diseases. The aim of the project was to determine the level of knowledge of parents whose children attended the pediatric dentistry clinic and its relation to the incidence of dental caries. The study involved 42 parents and/or guardians, along with 47 children. A questionnaire was used to collect data on parents’ knowledge regarding oral health, and an odontogram was applied to assess the children’s oral hygiene index. The results revealed that 71% of the parents and/or guardians had a high level of knowledge about oral health and its relation to dental caries in children. However, it was observed that 53% of the children had a high CPOD index, indicating poor oral hygiene. In response to these findings, an educational talk was conducted for both parents and children, and follow-up on the participants’ oral health was carried out. These actions focused on promoting healthy oral hygiene habits from an early age and increasing awareness about the importance of oral care.